Peter and Anna Westerhouse, youngest son, was Amos Westerhouse. Hermann and Amalia Meyer, oldest daughter was Sophia Meyer. They are my great-grandparents.
As a young boy, Amos worked on his parents' farm, helping with farming and other chores around the home. He attended school at the Hopewell East School #68, located only one mile north of his home. This school was a one-room school for first through eighth grades. He graduated from the eighth grade.
At the age of seven, Sophia moved with her family from Hesper, Eudora, Douglas, Kansas to Big Spring, Montgomery, Missouri. The Grasshopper Plaque of 1874 and other harsh weather events was too much for the family to live in the area. Big Spring was where her uncle, Henry Edler (first husband of Mary Westerhouse), and aunt, Katie Edler (wife of Henry Westerhaus) lived.
Sophia's father, Hermann Meyer, died at the age of 51 on 17 Aug 1888 when she was twenty years old. Sophia and all her siblings (William, Wilhelmina, Matilda, Charles) were still living at home. Her mother, Amalia Meyer re married to Frederick Meyer 18 Oct 1890, and he brought four children into the marriage (Anna, Albert, Charles, Oscar). This may have contributed to Sophia getting married in 1891.
Amos Westerhouse and Sophia Meyer marriage license - 14 Feb 1891
Sophia Meyer and Amos Westerhouse Wedding - 25 Feb 1891
Amos and Sophia purchased an 80-acre farm after many years of renting for $4500 on 23 Dec 1905. It was located at 2372 N. 900 Road in the Captain Creek area of Eudora, Douglas, Kansas. The first three children, Amos Jr, Ethel, Oscar were born at the rented farm and their twins, Allen and Alvin, were born at the purchased farm.
Captain Creek farm (L-R) Ethel, Sophia, Oscar, Amos Sr, Amos Jr
Amos and Sophia hobnobbed with wealthy Eudora families, including the Lothholzes and Corys. Amos always said, "Use the best board first; then you have the best board last." The idea was that if you use a good board when you need it, then it will still be good even after a long time, but if you use an old board, it likely won't last, and the not used new board will deteriorate over time.
During February 1909, Amos was appointed to be one of the five Eudora Road Overseers and served for many years. While an Overseer, he helped construct many bridges and inscribed his initials on many of them. Additionally, Amos built hundreds of cisterns for local farmers from a form he created. During 1926, Amos retired from farming and serving as a Eudora Road Overseer.
After retiring, Amos and Sophia bought a home located at 110 East 7th Street in Eudora, Douglas, Kansas and moved into town. Their oldest son, Amos Jr, moved onto the family farm with his family. Living on 7th street in Eudora, Amos and Sophia was just a block west of their other son, Oscar, at 702 Church Street.
Sitting (L-R), Amos Sr and Sophia, Standing (L-R) Allen, Oscar, Ethel, Amos Jr, Alvin
Sophia became ill during 1932 with leukemia and passed away at their home after a long illness.
Sophia Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Journal World) 27 Jan 1932
After Sophia's death, Amos switched living between his children's homes. He did not cook, so he did not eat healthy after Sophia died. Amos lived on the porch of his home when his granddaughter, Beverly Westerhouse Joslin, and her newlywed husband, Donald Joslin, rented part of the house. He also lived in the garage apartment at Oscar & Margaret's and Amos Jr's farmhouse.
During November 1950, Amos was admitted to Lawrence Memorial Hospital after having a stroke and fed thru a feeding tube for thirty-eight days. His four children split time being at the hospital taking care of their father. He had a second stroke and died from a cerebral hemorrhage.
Amos Westerhouse obituary (Lawrence Daily Journal World) - 19 Dec 1950
Amos Westerhouse funeral card - 20 Dec 1950
Sophia Westerhouse gravestone at Memorial Park Cemetery (Lawrence, Kansas)
Amos Westerhouse gravestone at Memorial Park Cemetery (Lawrence, Kansas)
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